Life, 1912-04-11 · page 44 of 46
Life — April 11, 1912 — page 44: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is primarily an **advertising page** with minimal satirical content. The layout features three distinct advertisements: 1. **Martin & Marti shoes**: Uses a Thoreau quote about "hearing a different drummer" to market custom footwear, ironically suggesting individuality while promoting conformity to fashionable styles. 2. **Martell's Brandy**: A prestige liquor ad emphasizing centuries of tradition ("From George I to George V") and royal patronage by the House of Lords, trading on British institutional authority. 3. **Pandora's Box** (book announcement): John Ames Mitchell's novel, published by Frederick A. Stokes Company, illustrated with a domestic scene of a mailman delivering correspondence. The only discernible joke appears in the small cartoon caption about a "Future Mail Carrier" finding a scandalous letter—a mild commentary on postal worker curiosity or marital intrigue, typical of early 20th-century humor. The page prioritizes commercial promotion over satire.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
Thoreau said: “‘If I do not keep step with my companion, it is because I hear a different drummer.” No matter what your ideas in the making of perfect Shoe styles maybe, you will find its gratification in the fashionable footwear displayed by ARTI ©° ARTI n the Thomas Cort Shoes, re representatives. The world’s finest Hand-Sewed Shoe that has a Custom quality, s to-put-on convenienc y bes our unique Service- Custom Department in connection. Seven Dollars and upwards NNSASSSSNS NST TSN SS SNSNS SNS N TSS NNN NN NUNN NNN N NE, Y 4 4 4 Z Z Z Z PA 2 3 PA Z Zz Zz PA 3 PA 4 3 3 4 2 , PA 2 2 2 Al 2 Z z 3 PA PA Z z PA Zz Zz Z PA 2 Z A Zz 3 PA | From George I. to George V. MARTELL’S BRANDY has known but One Quality--- The Best BLUE AND SILVER LABEL Messrs. Martell & Co. have been appointed to supply Brandy to the House of Lords HOUSE EST, 1715 Sole Agents: G. S, NICHOLAS & CO. New York ANNANNNNN NAAN NN NAANNAAN AN NNALNNNNNNNNSNSNNNNNNNN SSS SS SSS DD DoDD DD DDO DED EDD ODED DEDD DD DDDS DS +) 2" PANDORA’S BOX By JOHN AMES MITCHELL Author of “Amos Judd," The Pines of Lory,” Editor of Life. Four Illustrations by the author. $1.30 wets fr FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY Publishers New York Future Mail Carrier: wiv, wene's A LETTER ¥ROM THAT FLIKI, THOMPSON, TO MRS. JONES. 1 must READ THAT!